Sisal buff resin impregnation method



United 1) -SISAL BUFF RESIN IMPREGNATION METHOD James L.-B. Vaughan, TheodoreWJHishp, and Douglas H. Hanna; Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignors to "Canadian Hanson and Van Winkle Company Limited,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of Canada No Drawing. Application January 16, 1956 Serial No. 559,110

Claims priority, application Canada October as, 1955 3 Claims. or 117-143 This invention relates to a new method for the treatment of, fibre buffs for the purpose of improving their wear resistance.

It is well known that a fibre buli consists of a series of cut and sewn sections of-fibrous material put'together to form -a wheel. As this wheel revolves on a-spindle, a buffing compound is applied thereto with the result that when a metal surface is brought into contact with the wheel, imperfections inthe metal are removed and a smooth and'bright surface is producedwhich is suitable for further finishing. The fibrous material used in the buff may be cotton, nylon, sisal or any other suitable natural or synthetic fibrous material. 'Sisal, which is a naturally occurring grass, isv exceptionally well suited for buffs designed forthe treatment of steel sulfaces.

Because of their continuous frictional contact with metal surfaces and their flexing action, fibre buffs normally wear out very quickly and easily. Accordingly, numerous attempts have heretofore been made to increase their wear resistance by applying thereto various water-insoluble adhesive materials, such as natural or synthetic resins, in order to hold the fibres together during use and reduce the internal friction from flexing of the buffs, thus improving their afiinity for the greases contained in the buffing compounds. A better head of buffing compound should thus be built up which would adhere to the buifs and prevent wearing out during contact with metal surfaces. Those attempts have, however, proved unsatisfactory mainly because of the methods by which the adhesive materials had to be applied to the bufis. The methods generally consisted in impregnating the bufis with solutions of natural or synthetic resins in organic solvents and thereafter evaporating the solvents, thus presenting a great fire hazard for the environment as well as a great danger of intoxication for the operators. Furthermore, those methods proved uneconomical be cause of the cost of the solvents as well as the cost of the solvent recovery equipment required.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for improving the wear resistance of fibre buffs which does not present any fire hazard or danger of intoxication and does not entail the aforesaid undesirable cost, because it does not involve the use of organic solvents.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a method which results in an exceptionally good adhesion to the buffs of the materials involved as well as in an excellent penetration of the said material.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Broadly speaking, the invention comprises impregnating the fibre buffs with an aqueous emulsion or suspension of a natural or synthetic resin, and thereafter heating the impregnated buifs to a temperature of from 70 F. to about 300 F. The use of a natural or syntheic resin in an aqueous emulsion or suspension renders inflammable, toxic and costly organic solvents unnecessary for the bud treatment.

More particularly; the inventiom'comprises immersing the fibre-buffs-inthe aforesaid emulsion or suspension until penetration of the fibrous material is complete, then removing...=excess. emulsion .orlsu'spensionfrom the bulfs .by spinningjthemljor by compressing them in ahydraulic pressand thereafter-,heatingthem to a temperature of from 70 F. to about 300 F. ,to evaporate the water and dry the resin to a point where the fibres have been properly bonded or lubricated and the surface has acquired-the correct" tackiness' to be" receptive to the bufling'compoundlaterto' beiapplied thereto.

- Amongst the'natural andsynthetic r'esins'which can be used in the methodof'the invention there maybe mentioned polyamides, polyesters; phenol/formaldehyde condensates, urea/formaldehyde condensates, vinyl polymers', terpene resins, alkyds, dammar gums, manila gums, pontianak gums, ecspal gums, accroides'gums, sandarac, mastic, and kauri gums; and'resin's such as Piccopale whichis" producedby the'p'olymerization of unsaturates derived from the deep cracking of petroleum.

. It iadesirable that an-emulsifying or stabilizing agent be incorporated inthe -emulsion or suspension for the purpose. of stabilising the-same and also of ensuring proper .penetrationland adhesion of the resin into and to the fibrous material of the buifs.

' =Any emulsifying or stabilizii1g-agent which is compatible with the resin can thus'be incorporated, singly or in combination; and may advantageously be volatile so that itcancbeevaporated: together with the water during the bulf heating stage, and thus yield a bulf which is more water resistant. Glues, gums, etc., have been found to be very desirable emulsifiers or stabilizers from the standpoints of economy and convenience.

Preferably, the emulsion or suspension should also contain a drying agent such as a metal naphthenate to promote the drying of the resin, thus producing a treated buff which is less liable to change during storage.

Improved results are also obtained by the incorporation in the emulsions of drying, semi-drying oils, or non-drying oils which are compatible with the said emulsions, such as linseed oil, tung oil, soya bean oil, blown hemp seed oil, castor oil, perilla oil, menhaden oil, mutton tallow, sulphonated oils, and petroleum oils. These oils can be employed, singly or in combination, to partially replace or to supplement the resins in the emulsions.

Other additives can be incorporated in the emulsion or suspension for the purpose of modifying the properties of the treated bufi from the standpoints of tackiness, lubrication, etc.

The proportions of the emulsion or suspension ingredients can vary within wide limits depending upon the properties desired in the final buff, having regard to the metal surfaces to be treated thereby. Thus, the bonding material which comprises the resin, with or without oil, can be present in amounts varying from 5% to 60% by weight of the total emulsion or suspension, and the concentration of the emulsifier or stabilizer, if present, can vary from 0.5% to 10% by weight of the emulsion or suspension. Drying agents, if present, may be used in a concentration ranging from 0.25% to 5% by weight of the emulsion or suspension.

The time for impregnating the buff with the emulsion or suspension is not critical and is governed by the rate of penetration of the emulsion or suspension. Similarly, the heating time of the impregnated bulf is governed by the rate of curing of the bonding material.

The following are examples of emulsions or suspensions which have been found eminently suitable for the treatment of sisal bulfs according to the method of the invention.

Liquid petroleum resin D165.is essentially composed of olefinic paraifins, containing some side branches on an otherwise straight chain compound. Also, there is a double bond or unsaturation in the terminal group of every molecule.

Example II Percent Piccopale 100 solid resin 43.0 Soya bean oil 4.3 2-amino-methy1-Lpropanol 1.3 Water v 41.4 Example Ill Percent Linseed oil epoxy ester 50.0 Monoethanolamine 0.2 Water 49.8

It is to be understood that the above examples are 4 about 10.0% of a liquid petroleum resin and about 5.0% of a non-ionic emulsifier, and thereafter heating the impregnated buff to a temperature of from F. to about 300 F.

2. A method for improving the wear resistance of a sisal buff which comprises'impregnating said buff with an aqueous emulsion containing, in percentage by weight of the emulsion, about 43.0% of a solid petroleum resin, about 4.3% of soya bean oil and about 1.3% of an emulsifying agent, and thereafter heating the impregnated buff to a temperature of from 70 F. to about 300 F.

3. A method for improving the wear resistance of a sisal buif which comprises impregnating said buff with an aqueous emulsion containing, in percentage by weight of the emulsion, about 50.0% of a linseed oil epoxy ester and about 0.2% of an emulsifying agent, and thereafter heating the impregnated buff to a temperature of from 70 F. to about 300 F.

References Cited in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,012

OTHER REFERENCES Ellis: The Chemistry of Synthetic Resins, vol. II. Copyright 1935 (pp. 946-7 relied on). 

1. A METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE WEAR RESISTANCE OF A SISAL BUFF WHICH COMPRISES IMPREGNATING SAID BUFF WITH AN AQAUEOUS EMULSIN CONTAINING, IN PERCENTAGE BY WEIGHT OF THE EMULSION, ABOUT 40.0% OF A SOLID PETROLEUM RESIN ABOUT 10.0% OF A LIQUID PETROLEUM RESIN AND ABOUT 5.0% OF A NON-IONIC EMULSIFIER, AND THEREAFTER HEATING THE IMPREGNATED BUFF TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 70* F. TO ABOUT 300*F. 